About

Beats Workin is about the life and times of a self-taught drummer who had a decent “weekend-warrior’ career while playing mostly singles and doubles. That’s me. As one band mate often stated, “At least you know when to go from the hi-hat to the ride cymbal.” As simple as that seemed to me, I guess it was less obvious to others. I also found there are quite a few other tricks to making this art form sound legitimate when you haven’t had any formal training. The biggest tip I can give right now is, LISTEN. Stop pounding on those obnoxious things and listen to the melody, the timing and emotion coming from the other musicians. Then add the unique drum ingredient to make the magic that is music.

I love the drums. The snap, the pop, the thump and splash! I love their place in music. Not a fan of solos. Don’t take em. Don’t listen to them. I listen to the flavor the others are cooking up and give it the foundation I feel it asking of me. If they’re the frosting, I’m the cake. Without the cake, there’s nothing to decorate. No flavor or feeling. No rhythm or movement. And worst of all, no one dancing.

After 30 years on the drums in 11 different bands (1980 – 2010) I’ve amassed numerous old cassette and video tapes, photographs, and other memorabilia from those experiences. As the media they’re recorded and printed on lose viability with each passing year, I set out to preserve them digitally rather than in a deteriorating cardboard box in my basement. This way, my son and his kids, or his kids’ kids can someday dispose of that box without regret.


So, for whatever it’s worth, and mostly for posterity, here’s what those old cassettes, video tapes, pictures and CDs captured of my life as a weekend warrior on the drums while using my God given talent to make the best product I could with the limited instruction I had.

“If the beat’s workin, the band’s workin.”

~ Mike, *Guaranteed or your money back*

*Dedicated to my son, Christopher, who grew up listening to the old Beats Workin tapes. Who became my trusted sidekick during my time with the last few bands, and is my absolute favorite band mate today. Whatever song you want to try son, I’ll always back you up on the drums.
~ Dad

– Beats Workin (the band)

“Beats Workin” was the 5th band on my musical journey and my “over-all” favorite band. This is the band my son grew up listening to even as he began to join me on weekend shows with The DeVilles, Two of Us, and the Mike Wagoner Band. The Beats Workin tapes are the ones I’ve had the longest and have cherished the most. This particular group of guys, those summers at the lake and these live recordings would become the benchmark to which I would measure all other bands. And, believe me, for a young drummer this was one tough act to follow.

Visit the Beats Workin band page for songs and pics.




– The DeVilles

The DeVilles” was the 9th band along the way. This newly formed group came together around 1996-97 and had an adventurous run of about 3 years. (that’s equivalent to 12 people years, btw)
There are several reasons I put this group in the top of my list. Most notably were my unbelievably talented band mates and the song list we managed to put together. We played some incredible music while thoroughly enjoying ourselves. A few years later lead singer, Dave Gunter and I would go on to form “Two of Us,” the next band on my list.

Tip: When you make a mistake on stage look at your band mates and grin from ear to ear. There’s nothing you can do about it now. And 99 times out of 100 no one in the audience even noticed. Besides, laughter makes for darn good, entertaining and lighthearted music.

“It’s only music. What could possibly go wrong?”
~ Mike

Visit The DeVilles band page for more info, songs and pics.




– Two of Us

“Two of Us” was the 10th and most unique musical experience of my life. I think it was in the spring of 2003 when Dave Gunter called me saying he missed the harmonies he and I used to do in “The DeVilles.” He had a vision of us performing as an acoustic duo with only guitar and percussion while leaning heavy into vocal harmonies. It wasn’t easy stuff he was proposing. My response was, “Oh, hell yes!” So the intensely focused, dedicated practicing began.
It was great. I love this kind of work. And I’m all about the preparation. Thanks to Dave, I learned how to sing and develop my voice as an instrument.
The drum set up was more thoughtful than it appears. It was minimal and it worked. It also elevated my ability as a drummer/percussionist. The whole experience was truly magical.
I must say that without Dave’s established vocal skills and outrageous rhythm guitar chops, I would be little more than a windup monkey slamming two tiny cymbals together. But, he saw something in this monkey that I might never have aspired to otherwise. And for that I am eternally grateful.
So, we dubbed our minimalist approach “Musical Sketches.” Where the whole was greater than the sum of its parts. Think, David Bowie’s “Space Oddity” performed with only 2 instruments and 2 voices. And, Lord have mercy, we seemed to have pulled it off! But don’t take my word for it. Click the link below and decide for yourself.

Visit the “Two of Us” band page for more info, music and pics.


– Mike Wagoner Band

The “Mike Wagoner Band” was my 11th and most likely final stop on this “band wagon.” (all puns intended – ha!) Mike contacted my good friend, Rick Steiner of Sandpoint Music in the summer of 2006 looking for a drummer. Rick gave him my number and a few weeks later I went to see him and Jack (Jaco) Purdie on bass performing at Millie’s in Priest Lake. They were a very tight and entertaining duo. At the time I was still in the group “Two of Us” which by then had become a trio with the exact same instrumentation. So it was an easy fit for me to join Mike with my stand-up kit and additional vocals to round out the trio. For about a year, and for the first time in my, eh um, “illustrious career” I was in two bands at the same time.

I had a fantastic time with this group primarily playing at the esquisite resorts and small communities surrounding Priest Lake here in North Idaho. It reminded me of my time with “Beats Workin” at a similar lake resort community 20+ years earlier. There were many, many times I thought to myself how this was the perfect bookend to that time in my life and very possibly to my career playing in bands. And, as it turns out, I was right. This was the last band I was in and I went out at the top of my game.

“I was born a drummer. I got some drums. And I played them. No regrets.”
~ Mike

Visit the “Mike Wagoner Band” page for more info, music and pics.